Common Questions about ECT
What Is ECT?
ECT is the use of electrical stimulation to the brain to produce a seizure. ECT has been found to decrease and relieve depression.
Why Is ECT Used?
ECT is primarily used to treat major depression. If other forms of treatment have not been helpful, often ECT will work. For instance, when antidepressant drugs have not been helpful or they are not a good idea, ECT may be tried. ECT may also be used for schizophrenia, affective disorders or catatonic states when a patient has not been helped by other forms of treatment.
How Do I Prepare for ECT?
Your doctor will discuss it with you. The doctor will explain the benefits and the risks of ECT. If you choose to have ECT, you must first sign a consent form for the treatment. A series of tests will be done to ensure that you are ready.
If benzodiazepines are prescribed, they should not be taken after 6 pm before the ECT. After midnight the night before ECT, you should not eat or drink anything. The morning of, you will be asked to put on a gown. The nurse will ask you to empty your bladder and take out dentures or any hairpins. You will be taken on a cart to the room where the ECT is performed. Once there, doctors, nurses and an anesthesiologist trained to do ECT will care for you.
What Happens During ECT?
Medicines will be given to you through an intravenous (IV) to make you drowsy and to relax your muscles. During the treatment, you will be asleep the entire time. You should feel nothing. Wires will be attached to your forehead. Very brief electrical charges will be given through the wires. As a result, you will have a seizure for about one minute. Seizures during ECT are most often mild. Movements are very slight. You may have goose bumps and your eyes may flutter.
What Can I Expect After ECT?
After ECT, you will wake up within a few minutes. You will likely be confused for a couple of minutes to hours. A nurse will check your vital signs often. The nurse will help to assure that you are comfortable. Since you may forget, the nurse will tell you where you are and what has happened. Keep in mind, this memory loss and confusion will last only a short time. Nurses will be there to help you through this time. If you have any headache, muscle aches or pain, medicines will be offered. Dizziness, nausea, headache, muscle soreness and most often go away the same day of the treatment. You can expect to feel like yourself within 2 hours. After that, you can resume your normal routines. It is normal to have amnesia related to the hospital visit after an ECT treatment. Some people notice a problem with their memory. Please note that this rarely lasts longer than a few months.
What About When I Go Home?
If you are having ECT as an outpatient, you must have an adult take you home and stay with you until the next morning. For the first day, you should also not drive any machinery or use power tools that require clear thinking.
What Is The Usual Course of Treatment?
People often improve a great deal after a few treatments. Yet further treatments are given for a more complete effect. For depression, patients tend to have 8-12 treatments. There are no guarantees against relapse. Some patients need added treatments 1-2 times per month. Each time you have ECT, we will explain it carefully since you may forget the treatment itself.
For More Information
For answers to your questions about ECT, please ask your doctor or nurse. We want you to understand ECT and are here to help you.
Questions to Ask
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The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 04/14/2010
Copyright © 04/14/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4472
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